Ankiel hammered a 3-2 pitch into the right-field stands. In a historic game filled with multiple “first” moments and baseball magic often more associated with winning teams, the Astros’ 8-2 win against the Rangers in the club’s American League debut was highlighted by Ankiel’s blast.

“It’s an emotional rollercoaster,” said Ankiel, who signed with the Astros during the offseason as a non-roster invite. “It’s a high. It’s something that you don’t want to end. But I’ll never forget it. That’s for sure.”

Tandem starters

Like Ankiel, Erik Bedard initially signed with the Astros as a non-roster invite. Like the 33-year-old Ankiel, the 34-year-old Bedard made the team’s 25-man opening-day roster. And like Ankiel, Bedard played a key role in the Astros’ 4,000th franchise victory.

After starter Bud Norris threw 5 2/3 strong innings, Bedard was unexpectedly brought out of the bullpen. Astros manager Bo Porter said he was comfortable using Bedard, since the lefthander isn’t scheduled to start until Saturday against Oakland. Bedard acknowledged he’d never come out of the bullpen to finish a game midway through its completion, and he earned his first career save via 3 1/3 innings of one-hit, no-run ball.

“I knew that if I would warm up in the game I was going in. … I didn’t want to get dry-humped and stuff,” Bedard said.

Porter’s much-admired Flywheel has made an official appearance in the Astros’ clubhouse. A flywheel was pasted to a wall on the Astros’ spring training clubhouse. The one inside Minute Maid Park is real and is similar to a Wheel of Fortune-type wheel.

Porter’s first-inning sprint to second base to dispute Jose Altuve being called out on a steal attempt made an impression on the Astros.

Numbers

The Astros collected nine hits, Justin Maxwell hit two triples and the team didn’t make an error.

Norris’ strength at Minute Maid continued. He ended 2012 with a steak of 13 1/3 scoreless innings and didn’t allow a run until the sixth. Norris is 18-14 with a 3.50 in 49 career home starts.

Jose Altuve went 2-for-4 with an RBI and captured the Astros’ energetic play.

The Astros struck out 13 times, with three apiece from Brett Wallace and Carlos Pena.

Rangers starter Matt Harrison gave up five earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.